Carbon commutator-brush and holder



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet l.

0. J. VAN DEPOELE. CARBON COMMUTATOR BRUSH AND HOLDER.

No. 422,265. Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

F i/g.2

76; J7. Charles 17621117610012,

(No Model.) 2 S11eets-Sheet 2.

0. J. VAN DEPOELE. CARBON OOMMUTATOR BRUSH AND HOLDER.

, 422,265. Patented Feb. 25, 1890. 3 9.7. i

,J J .7"'K

r- -P r1" h 5 l II I,

I "f if g f g J3 respect-NelyQsirlk: and end elevations oi UNITED STATE-S PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN nnronrs, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARBON COMMUTATOR-BRUSH AND HOLDER.

SB EGIFIOA'I ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,265, dated February 25, 1890.

' Application filed March 23, 1889. Serial No. 304,545. (No model) i To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- rOELE, a citizen of the United States," residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carbon Commutator-Brush and Holder, (Case 0,) of which the following is. description, reference being had to the alcompanying drawings, and to the letters of deference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in commutator-brushes and brush-holding dezces for dynamo-electric generators and mo- IS. I Some of the principal objectsof the inventron are to provide means for uulizing long pieces of carbon, so that the same may be fedrangement of a numberof forms of devices embodying the invention will be hereinafter fully described, and referred to inv the ap pended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a'n elevation, partly in section, showing an armature-shaft, commutator, and commutator-brushes and supporting devices. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theparts seen in Fig. 1. Fi n 3'is a top plan view of the carbon brushes and their supporting devices. Fig. 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, showing a somewhat diiierent construction of parts, such as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the commutator and commutator-brushes and supporting devices seen in Fig. 4. Fig. Sis a top plan view of the commutator-brushes and supporting devices seen in Figs. i and Fig. 7 is a side elevation, and Fig. 8 an end View, of a somewhat differently constructed eoinmutatonbrusli holder. Figs. 9 and 10 e,

plate E, for convenience in handling,

pendent, if preferred. The collars b other form of carbon commutator brush holder and tension device. Fig. ll. is a side elevation of a modified form of tension device applied to a carbon commutator-brush holder embodying my invention.

As indicated in the drawings, A is the armature-shaft of an electric machine, and B is the commutater-cylinder, which may be constructed in any known or desired manner.

O is a brush-holder rotatively mounted in suitable supports concentric with the armacure-shaft. In each extremity of the brushholder C is secured arclamp D,which extends at right angles from the said holder Gand parallel with the -commutatobcylinder D.

The clamps l) are longitudinally slitted or recessed to receive contact-carrying springs E, by. which they are connected at their outer extremities to earbondioldin g collars or short tubes G. iVithin the tubes G are placed car bon sticks, blocksor pieces 9, which are thus held in position and presented endwise to the commutator. The springs E are desirably formed by cutting slits e in a single resilienIt a, though the springs 111 may be entirelyindebe formed by striking up a portion of the metal of the springs E, or they may be light castings subsequently secured to the said springs. With either construction the colliars G are adapted to receive and hold a piece of carbon, which. is further clamped in position by a set-screwy, with which each collar is provided. I

The carbons 9 may be rectangular in cross- ,section, and should be coated with copper or other good conducting metal to eiiiect and insure good electrical connection with their supporting devices, from which. cur-rentis connected to line. I

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, acontactspring c may be attached to each collar or to the supporting spring be arranged to bear against the carbon 9, and in order to prevent overheating of the springs E the said springs are bridget'i by conductors gfiextendmg b contact-springs c and the might for weeks or months of constant use.

ployed in their stead. .5

the collars, and then secured by setting up the screws g. In this manner long sticks of carbon can be usedsufiicient in many cases The resiliency of the springsE will impart to the carbons a yielding pressure upon the commutator,which may readily be adjusted by moving the clamps D in their support or by slightly raising the springs E, while the setserews g are loosened to allow the carbon to be pushed downward and then tightened.

In Figs. 4, 5, and U the springs E are dispensed with and a rigid arm or arms F eming at right angles from the extremity of the brush-holder carrier C. The sleeve H has two arms F, to the extremities of which are secured a number, of tubular carbon-holders H, four being shown by way of illustration,

in each of which is placed a carbon f, which is thereby sustained in position to bear endwise upon the commutator-cylinder. Each carbon is desirably provided with a cap or washer f of goodcondueting metal,whieh is placed upon its upper extremity, and the current passing through the carbons is conveyed to the arms F, and thence by suitable connections to the circuit by large flexible contheir upper sides. To insert new carbons, the

I of the screw 2. A number of carbons 3', de-

springs it may be raised out of their grooves or slit-s 71 and the caps f withdrawn, or the sleeve H may be loosened and turned upon its support, when the carbons can be inserted from below'without removing the springs. With the forms just described small metaleoated sticks of carbon about the size of electrio-light carbons may be used; but where more extensive and desirably continuous con.- taet-surfaces are preferred or requiredI may construct the holders as indicated in Figs. 7- and 8. I

As indicated, the front of the generator or motor is provided with a rotatable support, which may be a ring attached to the frame of the machine, as indicated .at I. To the ring I is secured a carbon-holder in theform of a metallic box or frame J, which is desirably provided with lugs ii, secured rigidly in operative positions by screws i i The screw 'i is desirably provided with a milled head to admit of its being readily removed by hand,

and the carbon-holder J turned .over uponv the screw i as an axis to "allgw the insertion of new carbons from what,- when in operative position, is the lower end of the holder J. When recharged, the holder is returned to its upright position and secured by the insertion In the form shown a. sleeve H 18 secured upon an arm D, extend sirably in the form of square sticks of asize capable of moving vertically in thebox J, are arranged side by side, con'ipletely filling the' box and projecting through its under side into endwise contact with the conunutator-cylinder. The carbons j may be of any desired width, so that more or fewer thereof may be used to fillthe box J. They are, however, cut of equal lengths, and when in position are spring-pressed upon the commutator by a metallic cap K, to whiclrare secured springs 75, secured at their other extremity to lugs or projections 7; it upon the box J. In case any of the carbonsj should, by reason of detective manufacture or differences in density,

be disposed to wear away faster than the rest, Iprovide adj listing-screws j, passing through screw-threaded apertures in the cap K and bearing against the ends of the several carbons, so that in case one of the carbons wears faster than its neighbors their contact upon the commutator may be kept uniform by adjust-ing one or other of the screws j. It will be understood, however, that where a single block of carbon is employed the adjusting-screw j can be dispensed with. Conductorsfj extend between the caps K, box J, and suitable bindingposts j.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a somewhat different form of tension device is shown, comprising a box or frame J, extending across the face of the commutator, for receiving and supporting a plate L or a number of pieces of carbon. The box J is desirably recessed on its inner side to contain leaf-springs Z, between which the carbon L may be vertically moved, but which will prevent it from vibrating within its support and also serve to eifect a good electrical connection between the carbons and the box J. The upperend of the carbon L is provided with a cap M, which may be provided with a spring m at its. under side. Shafts N N are secured to the projecting lugs ICO forming what-is known as lazy-tongs. Spiral'springs'PP' are'wound upon the shafts ward pressure upon the cap M and carbon L.

This is a very light; and convenient form of arrangement and very desirable'under most circumstances, since the lazy-tongs willadmit of a great range'of movement at practically constant pressure. Furthermore, the lazytongs can be raised high enough to permit of the'carbon being renewed from the upper end of the box J.

A modification of nthe foregoing is 'illustrated in Fig. 11, in which the carbOn-supporh ing frame or box J is substantially "the same asjdst describedjbut instead of providing the'lazy'-tongs I utilizethe action of a single double-acting torsional spring Q in a somewhat different manner. Upon the cap R,which corresponds in other respects to the cap M,

,are provided supports 11 q 1), within which are rotatively mounted shaft-s S T, upon the outer extremity of each of which is secured a wheel ordrum s t. Chains "or other flexible connections 8' t extend from the peripheries of the pulleys s f, and are connected to projections U V uponthe box J. A spring W is placed about the central support q and coiled upon the shaft S '1, one of its extremities being secured to each. of said shafts, so that when under tension the spring V will impart torsion to both said shafts, tending to rotate the pulleys s t in a direction to wind up the chains 8 t and press the carbon L downward through the box or holder J against the commutator-cylinder.

I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement described, since the same may be varied in many matters of detail without departing from the invention.

llaving described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

. 1. A carbon comm utator-brush holder comprising a support within which the carbon is movable, contact devices bearing against the carbon, electrical connections extending from the contact devices, and a spring for holding the carbon against the commutator, substantially as described.

2. The combination of one or more carbon contacts, supports therefor within which the carbon is vertically moved, a contact device bearing upon the carbons, electrical connections between said contact and the working circuit, and a spring for holding the carbonsagainst the commutator, substantially as described.

3. In an electric commutator, a brush composed of a series of carbon blocks held in'position in a suitable retaining box or receptacle in which they are free to slide up and down independently of one another.

4. A carbon commutator-brush holder comprising a support within which a plurality of carbons are held endwise upon a commutatorcylinder, and a spring or springs acting against each of said carbons, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with one ormore carbon contacts, of aholder therefor, springs for feeding the carbons downward, and contactsprings bearing against the exterior surfaces of said contacts, substantially as described.

6. The combination of one or more carbon contacts, a comnmtator, a holder forv sustaining the said carbons in en dwi'se contact therewith and through which the carbons are mov-. able, and springs for preventing vibration of the carbons, substantially as described;

a 7. The combination, with one or more carbon contacts, of a box for holding the same andthrough which the contacts are movable, a spring-pressed follower for feeding the carbons endwise through the box to the commutator, a contact-surface between the spring and the carbon, and a conductor connected with the contact and carrying the current around the spring, substantially as described 8. The combination of one or more carbon contacts,,a commutator, a box for holding the lower ends of the carbons and through which they are movable into endwise contact upon the commutator, an extensible springpressed follower for feeding the carbons through the box, a metal cap between the carbons and the spring, and conductors connected with the metal cap for carrying the current around the spring, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a commutator, two or more carbon contacts therefor, 11. box or frame for sustaining the lowerportions of said carbons and within which they are movable, a metal cap or follower acting against the ends of the carbons, and adjustable tension-springs connected to the follower'and to the box, whereby the carbons maybe pressed endwise against the commutator with the desired tension, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a commutator, one or more carbon contacts therefor, a' box or holder through which the Eearbons are movable endwise against the commutator, a follower upon the free endsof the carbons, and a spring-actuated lazy-tongs connected to the box and to the follower for maintaining contact between the carbons and the comm utator, substantiallyas described.

CHARLES -J. VAN DEPOELE. Witnesses:

J. W. GIBBONEY,

CHAS. L. Ononsmm. 

